The bride worked closely with Burton and collaborated on the dress' design, which elegantly fused the traditional requirements of a royal wedding gown with the modernity that the house of McQueen is famous for. The lace appliqué on the bodice and skirt was hand-made by the Royal School of Needlework, while individual flowers were hand-cut from lace and attached to ivory silk tulle to create an organic effect, incorporating the rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock. The hips of the dress were padded and the skirt echoed the opening of a flower with a train that measured 2.7 metres.

After a lunchtime reception given by the Queen, the newlywed couple drove away from the palace in an Aston Martin to spend some time at Clarence House. Later they returned to Buckingham Palace to celebrate their marriage with their friends at a party hosted by Prince Charles (where he was said to have lost his voice in the revelry), at which Catherine wore another dress by Sarah Burton for McQueen and Pippa impressed in an emerald silk dress from Temperley.

Catherine Middleton married Prince William on April 29 2011. The first glimpse of the bride in her dress was while she was travelling to Westminster Abbey.

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Prince William was escorted to the Abbey by his brother, Prince Harry. Harry was in the uniform of a Captain of the Household Cavalry and William was wearing an Irish Guards Mounted Officer’s uniform in Guard of Honour Order with a Forage Cap.

Although he was not wearing a sword, William's gold and crimson sash – and gold sword slings – were worn in the presence of a member of the Royal Family. He was also wearing the Garter Sash with the Wings of the Royal Air Force, the Garter Star and the Golden Jubilee Medal.

Catherine's chantilly lace Alexander McQueen by Sarah Burton dress was applauded for its fusion of tradition and modernity.

The lace appliqué on the bride's bodice and skirt was hand-made by the Royal School of Needlework. The peplum and train of the skirt are classic examples of the sophisticated tailoring that McQueen is famous for. Her sister Pippa, also in lace-trimmed McQueen, carried her train as she entered the Abbey.

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Kate Middleton arrives at Westminster Abbey for her wedding to Prince William with over 1900 expected guests.

Pippa was joined at the Abbey by the bridesmaids and page boys – Margarita Armstrong – Jones, Grace van Cutsem, Eliza Lopes, William Lowther-Pinkerton and Tom Pettifer. The young bridesmaids' dresses were created by Nicki Macfarlane and were intended to echo the shape of the bride's gown.

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Pippa Middleton, the maid of honour, in her Alexander McQueen dress, designed by Sarah Burton, with two of the bridesmaids – Grace van Cutsem and Eliza Lopes, both three years old.

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The Queen arriving at Westminster Abbey.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall arriving at Westminster Abbey.

Prince William was wearing the Royal Navy number one dress uniform and the Duchess of Cornwall wore a pastel box-pleated and embroidered coat and dress by Anna Valentine, Jimmy Choo shoes and a Philip Treacy hat.

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Carole Middleton, the mother of the bride, in a pale blue Catherine Walker coat dress and hat by Berkshire-based milliner Jane Corbett.

Prince Andrew in the uniform of a Rear Admiral of the Royal Navy with a Garter Sash.

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Samantha Cameron – in a Burberry dress, Aldo shoes and Erdem jewels - with the Prime Minister, David Cameron.

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Victoria Beckham – in a dress from her own autumn/winter 2011-12 collection, Louboutins and a Philip Treacy hat – with husband David in a Ralph Lauren Purple Label made-to-measure morning suit, wearing his OBE medal.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William ride in their wedding carriage en route to Buckingham Palace.

The Duchess waves to the crowd as she and Prince William return to Buckingham Palace in a royal carriage.

The Duchess and Prince William after their wedding ceremony.

The newly married couple rode to Buckingham Palace via royal carriage.

The Queen and Prince Philip in the procession after the Royal wedding.

The Queen travelled to Buckingham palace after the wedding with the Duke of Edinburgh - who was wearing the uniform of a Colonel of the Grenadier Guards with a Garter Sash.

The newly-titled Duke and Duchess of Cambridge appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the Royal Airforce flypast and to seal their marriage with a kiss.

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The newlyweds wave to onlookers from the balcony at Buckingham Palace.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, following their wedding at Westminster Abbey.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the balcony at Buckingham Palace with bridesmaids Margarita Armstrong-Jones and Grace Van Cutsem, following their wedding at Westminster Abbey.

Michael and Carole Middleton, Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Maid of Honour Pippa Middleton and Best man Prince Harry on the balcony at Buckingham Palace.

Michael and Carole Middleton, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla and the step-granddaughter of Prince Charles on the balcony at Buckingham Palace.

Pippa Middleton, Prince Harry and James Middleton on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

Queen Elizabeth waving to the crowd at Buckingham Palace.

After the lunch reception given by the Queen, the newlyweds set off from Buckingham Palace for Clarence House, to carry on the wedding festivities, in Prince Charles' Aston Martin – which had balloons tied to the back and a customised licence plate reading: "Just Wed". Prince William and his bride celebrated their marriage with a private dinner, followed by dancing, hosted by The Prince of Wales.

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The royal couple leave Buckingham Palace along the Mall.

In their official wedding photographs, taken by Hugo Burnard, the couple were pictured in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace.

The Duchess' dress for the evening reception at Buckingham Palace was also by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. Here she is pictured with Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, who wore an Anna Valentine dress.

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Prince William (who changed into a dinner suit), Catherine and Prince Charles leave Clarence House to go to Buckingham Palace for the evening reception.